The new British Prime Minister's statement at the beginning of his mandate has immense significance in the current political circumstance of our own Island. After 20 years of almost uninterrupted rule by the Nationalist Party this country is yearning for change.

Our own prime minister had a golden opportunity to break with the past when he took office just two years ago, but he squandered this chance. He hung on to a Cabinet left to him by his predecessor, which was already dysfunctional and showing clear signs of political obsolescence.

Unlike Gordon Brown, who brought in a completely new team to give credence to his commitment to change, Lawrence Gonzi seems to have very little room to manoeuvre after a hard-fought battle for the leadership of the party. It seems that loyalty at the party level had to be rewarded with loyalty at Cabinet level.

But ordinary, hard-working people who are not really interested in political intrigue, are not impressed at all by backroom deals aimed to keep the present pack of under-performing ministers in power for as long as possible. What these people want is a change in direction in the different areas of our economy where failure will have tragic consequences on their lives.

Let us just take the pitiable state of our tourism industry as an example. Despite various restructurings, and solemn announcements of a new dawn for this industry, the stakeholders in the tourism sector continue to feel the squeeze brought about by the constant decline in the added value that we were used to seeing up to some years ago.

Attempts have been made to blame our national airline, the airport, the leaders of our tourism authority, and the alleged lack of commitment of the investors in this industry, to shift the blame from where it really belongs. One plan of reform followed another with no clear direction, and with much less political will to address the real issues that have rendered our tourism industry uncompetitive.

The reality is that this government has no idea where it wants to take this industry, which is so vital for the well-being of thousands of workers whose livelihood depends on the success or failure that we achieve in our endeavour to attract more visitors to our island.

The Prime Minister continues to show his faith in the minister responsible for tourism, even when the results he has achieved are so miserable. This is perhaps because it is the whole Cabinet that is failing to contribute to the revival of this industry.

Incompetence and arrogance

There are of course other reasons why most of our people are hoping that the work of change begins also in our country. In these last few months we have heard of various cases of corrupt practices by the cronies of certain ministers who seem to have put party loyalty before competence and integrity when populating their ministries.

Abuse of power given to civil servants who are paid with taxpayers' money is one of the most distinguishable elements of an administration that is crumbling under the sheer load of its incompetence and arrogance.

Years of stagnation in the seats of power, however legally such power was secured, inevitably leads to sleaze and lack of accountability. It makes the holder of such power initially believe that their grip on authority is unchallengeable, and then fear that such power is soon going to evaporate with the emptiness that this leaves behind.

The time of reckoning will be with us soon. The Nationalists will no doubt again portray themselves as the natural party of government. They will continue to demonise Alfred Sant and dismiss the Labour Party as a party with no vision and with no solution for the many of the country's economic, social and environmental problems.

With the help of the media that support them, the Nationalists will continue to show the Labour Party as a negative party while they will try to instil a feel-good factor in the people.

But the PN is in disarray. Many ministers are not even on speaking terms with each other, let alone are they working together to address the country's problems. The Prime Minister seems totally powerless in this situation, hoping that smiling into video cameras will be enough to do the trick and charm the voters.

But this time round it will not be just the Labour Party that will tell them that it is time for the work of change to begin, but also the silent majority of thousands of people of different political inclinations who are just fed up with the state of neglect which has characterised our country for the past several years. The silent majority knows that there is a big gap between what the nice picture of progress and prosperity manufactured by the PN and the hard reality of everyday life.

The Labour Party has spent the last four years listening and learning from the people of Malta and Gozo. We have been reaching out beyond narrow party interests and tapping all the talents in the country of people in business, unions and civil society. We have worked hard with them to prepare our plans to give a new beginning to our country.

Once in government we will continue to work hand in hand with the best and brightest of goodwill, who want to improve our country. We will govern with the people, not apart from them or against them.

The Labour Party will bring change to Malta and Gozo. The people want change. They are fed up of the corruption that is corroding our institutions. They are fed up of depriving their families of a better life as they have to pay high taxes and high utility bills while they see millions of liri squandered in waste and hand-outs to a few cronies.

They are fed up of seeing the environment and their quality of life continue to deteriorate. They want a new, dynamic government to mobilise and co-ordinate the creative energies of this country. The Labour Party will give then such a government.

evaristbartolo@hotmail.com